2 local doctors reprimanded by state board

Two area doctors face disciplinary action by the Texas Medical Board, after the agency’s Aug. 29 and 30 meeting.

Dr. Kevin Joseph Pauza, an interventional spine specialist in Tyler, entered into an agreed order requiring him to have his practice monitored by another physician for four monitoring cycles; and within one year, complete 20 hours of continued medical education, including eight hours in opioid therapy and four hours in risk management, according to statements released by TMB on Friday.

The board found that Pauza failed to meet the standard of care, failed to follow the board’s guidelines for the treatment of pain, failed to keep adequate medical records and failed to cooperate with board staff.

Dr. Lucia Leigh Williams, a Jacksonville obstetrician/gynecologist, entered into a mediated agreed order requiring her to, within one year, complete 16 hours of continued medical education, divided into the following topics: eight hours in risk management and eight hours in managing high-risk obstetrics patients; and pay an administrative penalty of $1,000 within 60 days, the report said. The board found Dr. Williams failed to diagnose and treat a pregnant patient’s chronic hypertension and failed to order further testing to confirm fetal well-being. This order resolves a formal complaint at the State Office of Administrative Hearings.

The board disciplined 41 licensed physicians and issued two cease and desist orders at its last meeting. The disciplinary actions included two suspensions, eight voluntary surrenders/revocations, two orders based on other states’ actions, five orders related to unprofessional conduct, three violations of prior orders, one order due to impairment, one order due to a death registry violation, five orders related to nontherapeutic prescribing, two orders related to criminal behavior, one order due to inadequate medical records, and eleven orders related to quality-of-care violations.